There is a perception among many public
procurement professionals that engaging
with the market endangers transparency and
introduces bias into the procurement process.
However, conducted appropriately, market
engagement can be delivered well within the
bounds of the European Union’s Directives on
Public Procurement, as shown by the examples
in this collection of good practice, and can
deliver significantly improved outcomes for a
given purchase.
The case studies in this collection present a
range of approaches, which can be used for
engaging the market in different circumstances
and for different purposes, including the
following: market sounding questionnaires,
innovation prospectuses, supplier events and
online platforms. Not every approach will be
suitable for every procurement, and not every
procurement will require market engagement.
This collection shows what can be achieved
when the right methodology is used in the right
circumstances.